Wednesday, August 19, 2015

SUSANVILLE— Officials at California Correctional Center (CCC) in Susanville are investigating the cause of a riot that occurred Sunday, August 16 in which one inmate was fatally shot.

At approximately 5:45 p.m. about 45 inmates started fighting in one of the prison’s Level III, medium-security dining halls.

Correctional peace officers used pepper spray, less-than-lethal force options, and at least four warning shots from the Ruger Mini-14 to quell the disturbance.

One inmate, who was attacking another with a weapon, was struck by a fifth round from the Mini-14. Inmate Jonathan Velarde was pronounced dead at the prison’s medical unit. The inmate’s next-of-kin has been notified.

Velarde, 23, was committed to California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) from Los Angeles County on September 16, 2013 to serve a two-year, eight-month sentence for attempted second-degree robbery and possession of marijuana for sale by a second-striker.

No staff members were injured in the disturbance.

This incident is an on-going investigation by the prison Investigative Service Unit and will be referred to the Lassen County District Attorney’s Office. The Office of the Inspector General was notified.

CDCR also sent a Deadly Force Investigations Team (DFIT) to CCC to investigate the incident. DFIT is a team of trained CDCR investigators that conducts criminal and administrative investigations into every use of deadly force. A deadly force review board will conduct a full and complete review of the incident as well.Inmate movement and programming is limited to facilitate the investigation.

CCC opened in 1963 and currently houses approximately 4800 conversation camp, minimum-medium custody inmates that work with CAL FIRE in wild land conservation and firefighting projects. CCC offers academic classes, vocational programs, and firefighter training.